Make a billing-guidelines cheat card for a new paralegal

About this exercise

Write a cheat card for Tomas, a new paralegal, from the outside-counsel guidelines. Plain text, under 110 words, five lines with these labels in order: Rates:, Travel:, Staffing:, Invoices:, Approvals:. Each line under 20 words. Use the amended figures where the amendment changed something. End with the line: Ask the GC's office about anything not covered here.

Common mistakes when you ask AI for this

• Old rate caps. The AI uses $425 and $290. Try: Say: "Use the amended figures from Oct 1, 2026."
• Details dropped. The AI skips the thresholds. Try: Say: "Include each number: 3 timekeepers, 30 days, $2,500."
• Labels and ending. The AI writes paragraphs or its own closing. Try: Say: "Five labeled lines, then the exact closing line."
• Trusting the AI to count words. AI is bad at counting. Ask for a total word limit and it often lands over it. Try: Cap each part instead, for example: "each line under 15 words."
• Markdown. The AI bolds words or adds headings. Try: Say: "Plain text, no bold, no headings."

What a strong prompt includes

• Five labels
• Use amendment
• Reader named
• Exact ending
• Line limit

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